Did You Get Your Greens Today?

by Michelle Hancock
Source: Health Action Magazine, Autumn 2005

If you're like most Canadians, you're probably not eating enough fruits and vegetables. Only 43 per cent of us regularly consume the five to 10 daily servings recommended by most food experts, notes a recent survey.

Our top three reasons for not eating enough are a lack of convenient options, the tendency for produce to go bad in the fridge, and the effort required to prepare tasty dishes.

Two in five parents in Canada also find it difficult to get their children to eat vegetables every day. Half of parents resort to hiding or disguising veggies on the plate.

Well, struggle no longer. Here are 10 tips for "greening" your diet.

Start your day right. Why wait till dinner to stuff your face with spinach? Add spinach, green peppers, tomatoes and onions to your breakfast omelet or eggs.

Stay smooth. Toss blueberries, banana, yogurt and a heaping tablespoon of your favourite green drink powder into a blender for a delicious smoothie.

Get your produce delivered. Fresh home delivery is readily available, and surprisingly cheap. Try it for a month. You'll be amazed at how this one change encourages you to eat more healthfully.

Wrap away! Instead of bread for your next hot or cold sandwich, use lettuce or cabbage (softened by boiling a few minutes with tomato juice). Yum.

Create colourful salads. Who said fruit was for dessert? Add some mandarin orange slices, pineapple or strawberries to your garden or spinach salad.

Dress up frozen foods. The next time you whip out the frozen pizza, chop up some peppers, spinach and zucchini to throw on top.

Keep chopped veggies in the fridge. Prechopped carrots and celery in the fridge make it easier to grab and go. Also, you're less likely to snack on junk food.

Make a fruit-and-veggie chart. And stick it right on the fridge door so the entire family knows if they're hitting their daily servings' goal.

Specialize your soup. Start with your favourite organic canned or packaged soup and add fresh or frozen vegetables such as beans, peas or corn. The possibilities are endless!

Herb it up. Many common herbs are healthy. Mint and parsley, for example, fight bad breath and relieve upset stomach. Try them in salads and sandwiches.

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